Do you know that our brains are like Velcro for negative experiences and like Teflon for positive ones? That is what a psychologist explained to us recently at training for people working with families. The subject was ‘Supporting parents of an anxious child’ and we were being urged to understand that really, our brains are…
It’s story time in Kerry Our lives revolve around stories – we listen to the news, read books and regale our children about times gone past. To celebrate all things story, the Sneem International Storytelling & Folklore Festival will present artists of all ages to delight and enthral. Taking place in Kerry’s Sneem Hotel…
Children’s Corner There are lots of different types of tricks that magicians perform – sometimes they will make objects appear and disappear, saw a lady in half, or read people’s minds. One popular illusion that most stage conjurors still present today is levitation. This is the art of making something float off the ground without…
Personal Profile God is present in the cries and injustices of the world, Colm Fitzpatrick learns Words usually don’t do justice to depict real, lived experiences and this sentiment couldn’t be truer when describing the harrowing conditions in Kenya’s Mukuru slums. With rising poverty and violence across the region, it can be difficult to muster…
Questions of Faith Organ donation can make a tremendous difference to the quality of people’s lives – thousands suffer yearly from liver, kidney and heart problems, so a chance to find a replacement organ for its damaged counterpart can be a dream come true. Despite its benefits, it’s not uncommon to hear reservations about this…
Hallowe’en should be spent with family and friends, not in A&E, writes Colm Fitzpatrick Hallowe’en is a highlight for many in the calendar year; the opportunity to dress up as your favourite superhero or ghoul, stay up late into the night, and eat an endless supply of sweets makes it a favourite among the…
A friend of mine shares this story. She grew up with five siblings and an alcoholic father. The effect of her father’s alcoholism was devastating on her family. Here’s how she tells the story: “By the time my father died his alcoholism had destroyed our family. None of us kids could talk to each other…
A Parents Perspective Parents worry about the amount of time that young people spend on social media. I have concerns about the nature of some of the content they might see, the hours of time wasted and the need to measure up to others they see posting online, but I have another misgiving. Being a…
Green Fingers “Fallen leaves lying on the grass in the November sun bring more happiness than the daffodils” – Cyril Connolly If left on the grass of your lawn for long enough, leaves will cause it to weaken and yellow, which will encourage fungal diseases and bare patches. Gather them up and turn them into…
It’s popcorn time! Films speak to everyone irrespective of age or race; they transport you to another world for a brief period of time where you can laugh, cry or be astonished. To celebrate the power of the cinema, Cork Film Festival will be running this November. Award-winning films from the international film festival circuit,…
Bairbre Cahill
Colm Fitzpatrick
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Maria Byrne
Paul Gargan